The latest edition of the communication guide that has sold more than 1,000,000 copies

An enlightening look at how peaceful communication can create compassionate connections with family, friends, and other acquaintances, this international bestseller uses stories, examples, and sample dialogues to provide solutions to communication problems both at home and in the workplace. Guidance is provided on identifying and articulating feelings and needs, expressing anger fully, and exploring the power of empathy in order to speak honestly without creating hostility, break patterns of thinking that lead to anger and depression, and communicate compassionately. Included in the new edition is a chapter on conflict resolution and mediation.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Nonviolent Communication connects soul to soul, creating a lot of healing. It is the missing element in what we do.” —Deepak Chopra, author,How To Know God

“Dr. Rosenberg has brought the simplicity of successful communication into the foreground. No matter what issue you’re facing, his strategies for communicating with others will set you up to win every time.” —Anthony Robbins, author, Awaken the Giant Within and Unlimited Power

"You have to be able to say, 'Where is this person coming from?' he says. 'What makes them tick? Why are they excited or frustrated by something that is happening, whether it’s about computing or beyond computing?' There’s far more to McCracken’s outstanding piece. Nadella gave him a close and honest look at both himself and Microsoft, and the result is a fun must-read." —Ben Kerschberg, Forbes

About the Author

Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD (1934–2015) founded and was for many years the Director of Educational Services for the Center for Nonviolent Communication, an international peacemaking organization. During his life he authored fifteen books, including the bestselling Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life (PuddleDancer Press), which has sold more than one million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 30 languages, with more translations in the works.

Dr. Rosenberg has received a number of awards for his Nonviolent Communication work including: 2014: Champion of Forgiveness Award from the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance 2006: Bridge of Peace Nonviolence Award from the Global Village Foundation 2005: Light of God Expressing in Society Award from the Association of Unity Churches 2004: Religious Science International Golden Works Award 2004: International Peace Prayer Day Man of Peace Award by the Healthy, Happy Holy (3HO) Organization 2002: Princess Anne of England and Chief of Police Restorative Justice Appreciation Award 2000: International Listening Association Listener of the Year Award

Dr. Rosenberg first used the NVC process in federally funded school integration projects to provide mediation and communication skills training during the 1960s. The Center for Nonviolent Communication, which he founded in 1984, now has hundreds of certified NVC trainers and supporters teaching NVC in more than sixty countries around the globe. A sought-after presenter, peacemaker and visionary leader, Dr. Rosenberg led NVC workshops and international intensive trainings for tens of thousands of people in over 60 countries across the world and provided training and initiated peace programs in many war-torn areas including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the Middle East.

He worked tirelessly with educators, managers, health care providers, lawyers, military officers, prisoners, police and prison officials, government officials, and individual families. With guitar and puppets in hand and a spiritual energy that filled a room, Marshall showed us how to create a more peaceful and satisfying world.

Top customer reviews

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This book has made all of my relationships more manageable. If you grew up in a dysfunctional family like I did, where communication usually happened in the form of guilt trips and passive aggression, this book can change your life. As soon as I started applying concepts like observing without judgment, communicating my needs and my feelings openly and honestly, asking for what would add joy to my life, and not taking ownership for other people's feelings or responses to me, I noticed a change in how people in my life responded to me and my requests. People began to seem more open to hearing me, and normal every day conflicts can be addressed without people getting escalated.

I read this on a recommendation as one of my friend's favorite books. I agree it has beautiful truths and words to live by. However, and perhaps ironically, this book is tone deaf to women in a way that caused me to cringe every 10 pages or so, which does detract from the message. I do recommend the ideals in this book, if only to ask, "has anyone read something similar that doesn't portray women in this pathetic light?"

"Believing that it is our nature to enjoy giving and receiving in a compassionate manner, I have been preoccupied most of my life with two questions: What happens to disconnect us from our compassionate nature, leading us to behave violently and exploitatively? And conversely, what allows some people to stay connected to their compassionate nature under even the most trying circumstances? ...

While studying the factors that affect our ability to stay compassionate, I was struck by the crucial role of language and our use of words. I have since identified a specific approach to communicating--both speaking and listening--that leads us to give from the heart, connecting us with ourselves and with each other in a way that allows our natural compassion to flourish. I call this approach Nonviolent Communication, using the term nonviolence as Gandhi used it--to refer to our natural state of compassion when violence has subsided from the heart." ~ Marshall B. Rosenberg from Nonviolent Communication

Based on Gandhi's ideal of nonviolence, Nonviolent Communication (or NVC for short) is also known as "Compassionate Communication." I think it could also be appropriately described simply as "Effective Communication." As the cover of the book declares: "More than 1,000,000 copies sold for one simple reason: it works!"

I've been planning to read this book for quite some time and, after seeing both Brené Brown and Kristin Neff rave about it, I decided now was the time. I was blown away by the goodness.

I'm inspired by not only the theory and practices laid out in the book but by Marshall B. Rosenberg's lifetime commitment to mastering communication and helping us, as he would say, create a compassionate flow btwn ourselves and others based on mutual giving from the heart.

Here are some Big Ideas from this book:

1. NVC - What is it?2. The Four Components - Observations + Feelings + Needs + Requests.3. What Gets in the Way? - Life-alienating stuff.4. Taking Responsibility - Is key.5. What Do You Want? - Always a powerful question

The best book I have read without a doubt. I have used all of the concepts covered in the boom in my family violence intervention program and anger management classes. The people in class have loved the days we go over these ideas. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to find a healthier way to communicate and connect with other.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to improve their communication skills. As a teacher, I would encourage all teachers to read, and re-read, this book to assist them in their daily work. I don't always get Rosenberg's methods right every single time I speak with a student, but if I am try my hardest to be mindful of how I talk and try to mirror his methods as much as possible, my interactions are much better now than how I used to talk to them. I have tried Rosenberg's methods in my personal life, and once again, I noticed improved results.

My only wish is that Rosenberg provided infographics for his methods. It can be challenging to remember the steps when you are in the moment, angry/misunderstood/disappointed/etc.